"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history as chroniclers of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.

The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre site holds over 12,000 entries and is growing daily.

The Roll of Honour contains the names of all the men known to have served at one time with the 1st NSW Mounted Rifles and gave their lives in service of Australia, whether as part of the 1st NSW Mounted Rifles or another unit during the Boer War.

The following is an alphabetical roll of all Australians known members of the many military formations which embarked overseas during the South African (Second Boer) War, 1899-1902.

Each man is detailed on this reference list with the following information:

Service Number;

Rank on Embarkation;

First Names;

Family Name;

If applicable, any false name employed; and,

Service unit.

Notes

Note 1: All soldiers’ names are linked to the specific unit and date when embarkation occurred.

Note 2: There are duplications of some names in the following list. The reason for this is that the soldier embarked on more than one occasion. This was the simplest way of resolving the problem of multiple entries for a single individual.

After the arrival of Captain JW Legge in South Africa, he sent a series of letters to Sydney describing the activities of the New South Wales Infantry Contingent. They are a mixture of action and issues and so allow the reader to get to know this unit in an intimate manner. The personality of Legge comes through very clearly in his commentaries. The following is a transcript of his letter dated 28 December 1899.

I have the honour to report the following occurrences since my last letter from Capt Town.

On 6 December 1899, in accordance with instructions received at Cape Town, I handed over to the Officer Commanding Mounted Rifles all my horses, transport, and miscellaneous stores, in order to save time as the Company had to entrain the following morning. I was informed that these would eventually be taken over by the Imperial Government, and that we should receive the necessary mule transport at De Aar. My orders were to proceed at once to De Aar and report to the Officer Commanding Australian Regiment.

On 7 December 1899, I drew three days preserved rations and sufficient ammunition to make 100 rounds per man and 4,000 for the machine gun. The Company marched in full marching order through Cape Town to the Railway Station and received a fair reception from the people en route. The train moved off at 11 am. During the journey there were many delays, and more rations had to be obtained, but eventually, after four days and three nights in the train, we arrived at Enslin, a siding on the railways about 18 miles south of Modder River, lat on the night of Sunday, 10 December 1899.

All consequent halting places on the line were occupied by troops, as many as could be provided for by the local water supply. Troops on the trains can always have hot water for tea, and washing water also, got ready at any place where there are troops by sending a wire ahead.

At Enslin we were met by Colonel Hoad, Commander what has been named the Australian Regiment, and went under canvas.

Enslin is only a railway siding near a farm owned by a Boer of the same name, and the Australians have been holding this point on the railway line, which from Modder River to Orange River is liable to attack on either flank. Every seven miles there is a camp similar to our own, and here we have even been strengthened since by 2 guns Royal Horse Artillery, a detachment Royal Engineers, and part of the "Gordons" who were rather badly knocked about at Modder River. There are many graves here of those who fought in the Graspan - Enslin engagement.

The country is undulating Veldt with may Kopjes. Four of these near the railway are held by piquets day and night, and the Veldt around the camp and well is encircled. The Australian Regiment consists of the NSW, Victorian, South Australian, West Australian and Tasmanian Companies, five in all, 125 each except Tasmania which is only 80, and also the Victorian Mounted Rifles attached, with 3 Medical Officers from Victoria, South Australia and West Australia, in all about 700.

The day after arrival we sorted out kits and sent away to Cape Town a number of things that the Commanding Officer decided would not be required by us.

In accordance with the advice of Imperial Officers in Cape Town I had arranged for an agent to act for us in every capacity, AR MacKenzie & Co. This IO found afterwards had been also done by other Colonial troops. A number of our spare stores and kits are now in charge of the above firm, and any money matters may be arranged through them also. The equipment of the Company now consists of - Arms, accoutrements, tents (outer bell only), blankets and water proof sheets, camp kettles, 1 suit of uniform 2 shirts 2 pair socks, 1 pair puttees, 2 pair boots, 1 bowl, 1 great coat, 1 hat, 1 cap and 2 flannel belts each. The rest is in Cape Town in charge of AR MacKenzie & Co., who are large forwarding and general agents.

All the troops here are in puttees, while those raised locally or in other colonies nearly all wear the felt hat.

The rest of the Australians had Martini Enfield rifles and were rearmed with Magazine Lee Metfords, but so far have not been allowed by the Commanding Officer to fire a single round to test their rifles. Of course our men, excepting the Volunteers, have done 2 years' musketry with theirs, and even the Volunteers fired at Randwick before leaving home.

Since coming here we have had plenty of work, fatigues and drill by day, and a good deal of night work. In every four days we get 24 hours outpost duty on the kopjes, and 2 nights standing to arms from 3 am till 5 am, one night only being unbroken. Several nights we have had alarms also.

The health of the Company is good. Private Coxhead was left in Hospital at the Cape with rheumatism, and Private Bright has been sent down from here to hospital at Orange River with the same complaint. There has been a good deal of dysentery and other bowel complaints, caused partly by water, and even more by sour bread supplied by the Army Bakery Column at Orange River.

As we have no medical comforts or station hospital here I am spending a little of the incidental money on fresh milk from the Kafir camp here, which I give the sick men boiled and allowed to cool, and with rice if possible. This gives them relief and takes the place of the bad bread they would have otherwise to eat. The Commanding Officer will not arrange for a Regimental canteen, so I have advanced some money for a Company canteen, where we sell groceries at a small profit, out of which we provide little luxuries for the men, such as curry etc.

On Christmas Day I issued groceries (mostly tinned provisions) free to the Company, and charged same to Incidental money. I should be glad to have this expenditure approved. Twice we were fortunate enough to obtain from a trader a barrel of beer, which was retailed to the men not exceeding 1 quart per diem.

After a few days here I came to the conclusion that the present constitution of this Regiment was very unsatisfactory for many reasons. The units themselves were none of them equal to ours in discipline or training, and in fact were in part formed of recruits and none of them were familiar with the rifle. Party feeling was rife and jealousy everywhere more especially as the Commanding Officer, Major, Quartermaster, Squadron Sergeant Major, Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant Major, Butcher, Hospital Attendants etc were all Victorians, the Adjutant alone being an Imperial Officer and he not a man of strong will (Lascelles, a Captain of the Royal Fusiliers), lately Aide de Camp to the Governor of South Australia.

This disproportion did not affect me so much as the fact that the Victorian contingent were outrageously favourites in everything, even rations, at the expense of the others, that all the officers were disunited, and the Commanding Officer seemed altogether different to Regimental Commanding Officers in Imperial Service.

I therefore, after carefully considering the situation, sent in to the Commanding Officer a very respectful letter, asking that the Company might be attached to an Imperial Regiment, and that my letter might be forwarded. At a private interview with him, in which I was invited to speak out, I frankly told him my reasons, and that I feared the result of taking such a combination into action.

After keeping the letter a day the Commanding Officer came to me and gave me the option of withdrawing it. I understood indirectly from what he said, that the NSW Company would be sent to the base. It was a very difficult position, but he undoubtedly held the stronger hand, and anything he might say would no doubt carry more weight with the General Officer Commanding than anything I could say. Rather than allow the Company to do such I finally consented to withdraw the letter, but I fully expect that when we get in a tight place it will be left for this Company to pull some of the others out.

The matter being settled however I have done my best and I think that the NSW Officers are now in a fair way to being popular all round and that they are helping to bind others together.

There is no doubt that when it comes to solid fighting some of the Companies will be very difficult in fire discipline, but I hope NSW will keep things going. Already up here the 28 Lancers under Osborne, who were detached with Lord Methuen's Column have been known as the "Fighting Twenty Eight" and I hope we may earn something of the same ourselves.

This report has been written in a very disjointed fashion, as it has to be done on several days, and with many interruptions.

PS. Our mails arrive in a very scrappy fashion, and many letters we know should come have no yet done so. If the GPO would make up bags for each unit separately and add to our "Australian Regt", then would be much more regularity. This is already done now by some Colonies. JHL.

War Diaries

All War Diaries cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

The following transcript is of a letter written by Captain John Macquarie Antill, Officer Commanding the New South Wales Mounted Rifles contingent to South Africa to the New South Wales Chief Staff Officer and Assistant Adjutant General Colonel Henry Douglas Mackenzie.

Prieska, Orange Free State7 January 1900

The AA GeneralNSW Forces

Sir

Since my last I have to report the following. On the 29th Ultima a force consisting of a Company of Infantry, 2 Maxim Guns and the Squadron under my command and also 20 Remmington Guides, were ordered to march at once for this town to protect it from the rebel Boers who were reported to be rising on the northern side of the Orange River in Grequaland. The march was less than 130 miles was done in 3 days, and excepting some few horses which knocked up and had to be left on the road and without casualty at 3 am, 2nd Instant. Lieutenant Colonel Alderson who was in command directed me to at once take up position under cover on the River's bank and attack any Boers who might show themselves upon the other side. It appears that a Commando of about 20 had seized a farm commanding the punt crossing and not believing that the British would sent a force from De Aar were in the habit of coming down to the water's edge in the early morning to water horses etc. The inhabitants were in great fear as the Boers were seizing and destroying their property daily. The Boers showed out of their cover at 5 am but excepting 2 troops of 15 on whom I would not fire, did not approach nearer as it seemed to me that there was no chance of their approaching I opened fire with some twenty other ranks on some seven of them which fire they returned by a few rounds and they cleared out precipitously. Three of them were wounded and one native who I sent over afterwards from in four places. Crossing the river in a boat we cleared the country for some distance and returning to their laager captured a quantity of their guns and ammunition. Colonel Alerson returned to De Aar same evening leaving me with my Squadron and a troop of Remmington Guides. The Orange River is about 200 yards wide and passable at 5 drifts extending over 5 miles of frontage all of which was quickly secured and hold. Yesterday with a party of 40 crossed the river and proceeded quickly to a farm 16 miles north where I believed several of them were rising - reaching there at 5 am. Imprisoned seven rebels who gave themselves up. Secured quantity of arms and ammunition and retired to Prieska by 11 am. Inhabitants much impressed by this capture. The position here is difficult one as only about 10% of those living in the town can be counted loyal. Expect to be here for a week or two longer and to be reinforced by a troop of Scots Greys from Marth’s Drift 100 miles east. The Boers are a dirty lot of men and women - religion - good riders and mounted on country bred ponies very good of their kind. They are armed with all sort of weapons chiefly Martinis - Sporting rifles - old Henrys and some kings I have never seen before - I have a collection of some 40 some of them very good ones.

Have lost 3 horses, one from pneumonia one broken leg and one dropped dead from heart disease yesterday. Men in splendid spirits and very keen. British Officers much pleased with the way they work. Received a telegram from General Officer Commanding Orange River yesterday saying he was very pleased with the activity of the troops here. Officers all doing well. Rations difficult to get and very expensive. Climate like our own in summer. It is generally thought that the war will be a protracted one - the defensive positions occupied by the Rebels being almost impregnable. They are very difficult to see among the rocks and cover and the country is most difficult to get about on, even on the flat parts as the surface is generally rough and scrubby and very hard on the horses' feet.

I have the honour to be SirYour obedient servantJM Antill, CaptainCommanding New South Wales Mounted Rifles and TroopsPrieska, Orange River

All War Diaries and letters cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:

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